Flexible hoses

Abstract

The hose of the present invention comprises a soft hose wall (A) and a spiral reinforcement (B) for retaining the configuration of the hose. The hose wall (A) is formed with a composition comprised of: a resin component (A 1 ) containing a diene-series or hydrogenated diene-series rubber component, and an olefinic resin; and a lubricant (A 2 ). The rubber component may be a random or block copolymer of styrene and butadiene. The olefinic resin may be a polypropylene-series resin. The lubricant (A 2 ) may be a higher fatty acid or its derivative (e.g., a higher fatty acid amide), a higher alcohol or its derivative, a hydrocarbon-series wax, an organopolysiloxane, or fluorine-containing resin. The present invention provides a hose which is lighter, free from PVC, and capable of maintaining excellent flexibility even used for a long period of time.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A flexible hose comprising a soft hose wall (A) and a spiral reinforcement (B) for retaining the configuration of the hose, in which the hose wall (A) is formed with a composition comprising a resin component (A 1 ) containing a diene-series or hydrogenated diene-series rubber component and an olefinic resin, and a lubricant (A 2 ), 
       wherein the soft hose wall has a non-laminated structure comprising an inner layer and an outer layer,  
       wherein the olefinic resin in the resin composition (A 1 ) comprises a polypropylene-series resin, the lubricant (A 2 ) is at least one member selected from the group consisting of a higher fatty acid or its derivative, a higher alcohol or its derivative, a hydrocarbon-series wax, an organopolysiloxane, and a fluorine-series resin, and the spiral reinforcement (B) comprises an olefinic resin.  
     
     
       2. A flexible hose according to claim  1 , wherein the rubber component is a random or block copolymer of styrene and butadiene. 
     
     
       3. A flexible hose according to claim  1 , wherein the weight ratio of the rubber component to the olefinic resin is 30/70 to 95/5. 
     
     
       4. A flexible hose according to claim  1 , wherein the lubricant (A 2 ) is at least one member selected from the group consisting of a higher fatty acid amide and a silicone oil. 
     
     
       5. A flexible hose according to claim  1 , wherein the amount of the lubricant (A 2 ) is 0.1 to 10 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the resin component (A 1 ). 
     
     
       6. A flexible hose according to claim  1 , wherein the spiral reinforcement (B) is formed with an olefinic resin (B 1 ) having a hardness higher than that of the resin component (A 1 ) of the hose wall. 
     
     
       7. A flexible hose according to claim  1 , wherein the spiral reinforcement (B) is formed with an olefinic resin (B 1 ) having a modulus of bending elasticity of 10,000 kgf/cm 2  or more as determined by a tension test according to Japanese Industrial Standard K 6758. 
     
     
       8. A flexible hose according to claim  1 , wherein the spiral reinforcement (B) is hollow, and an electric conductor is inserted in the hollow. 
     
     
       9. A flexible hose according to claim  1 , which is an electric cleaner hose. 
     
     
       10. A flexible hose according to claim  1 , wherein the hose wall (A) is formed with a composition comprising (A 1 ) the resin component containing a random or block copolymer of styrene and butadiene and a polypropylene-series resin, and (A 2 ) at least one lubricant selected from a saturated or unsaturated C 14-24 fatty acid amide and a silicone oil; and (B) the spiral reinforcement is formed with a polypropylene-series resin.